Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can
see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the
people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you
started is not the same as never leaving.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Stories of wonder often have their beginnings in noticing some magic
everyone else has missed, in making some connection no one else has
seen, or in illuminating some ordinary thing with skill and style so
that it seems extraordinary. - Connie Willis

Sunday, July 7, 2013

These illustrations by Kaspian Shore look to me like a series of book
covers (think of The Vampire Diaries series). Each is a different
character, or a few characters slowly changing in this mixed up
science fiction/fantasy world. I'm intrigued - and provoked to try
and dream up who they might be.. Hope you are too.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

So there's this fascinating book edited by Jeff Vandermeer calledThe Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities. It's full of short
stories posing as real anecdotes of Lambshead's life and collection.
What was extra fascinating to me were these little blurbs in the back
- more anecdotes, but little paragraphs of mystery and eccentricity
instead of full-on stories. Let the imagination bleed; I was very
inspired by these and I think you would be too. Here's one:

Silence, One Ounce—Origins unknown. Found amongst the
possessions of the recently deceased Frank Hayes, thirty-four, who
tragically lost his life when he stepped in front of a public bus that
failed to stop. Its provenance is thought to include M. Twain, W.
Wilson, and the Marquis de Sade. Handle with care, not to be
administered more than one drop at a time. Silence is golden, but
too much will kill you. (blurb by Willow Holster)

There are books full of great writing that don't have very good stories.
Read sometimes for the story... don't be like the book-snobs who
won't do that. Read sometimes for the words--the language. Don't be
like the play-it-safers who won't do that. But when you find a book
that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book.